Tool



Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL John F.Kopczynski, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application May 31, 1946, Serial No. 673,711

7 Claims.

1 This invention relates to automatic stops for positioning a blank orpiece of stock in successive positions or stations as it is fedprogressively through a punch assembly where it is perforated.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved stop which may beapplied to existingtypes of punch assemblies or apparatus; which willeffectively position the stock for action thereon by the punch, andwhich automatically releases the stock for successive progressions ofthe stock; which will be fully automatic in action; which will berelatively simple, practical, eflicient and inexpensive; which requiresno attention in use; and which does not require substantial changes inexisting punch presses.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel featureswill be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through the die base of a punch device,in which is incorporated an automatic stop constructed in accordancewith this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on a smaller scale, of the punch havingthis improved stop incorporated therein, and illustrating one positionof the stop; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view, at the end of a punching operation with thestop in another of its positions in Iwhich the stock or blank isreleased for further progression.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention and referring first toFig. 3 in which a. simple punch press is illustrated, the stop is shownas applied to the die base I having in its upper face a female die oraperture 2 over which a piece of stock or blank B is moved inprogression. Disposed on the die base so as to extend somewhat above theblank B is a stripper member 3 having therein an aperture 4 throughwhich reciprocates a punch element 5 carried by die head 6. The die baseI has a passage 'I aligned with the die aperture 2 through which theslugs or punchings may drop after punching operations. This is a typicalpunch and it may have any suitable construction.

In the die base I is a recess 8 which extends downwardly from the upperface 3 of the die base over which the stock B moves, and this passage 3preferably extends fully between the top and bottom faces of base I asshown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is disposed in.

this passage 8 a pin I0 which may be conveniently referred to as a stoppin, with a head or lateral flange I I at its upper or outer end whichlimits the extent of movement of the pin Il! downwardly in the passageor recess 8. This pin I0 also has longitudinally thereof, a slot I2which, at the lower end for a substantial distance, has uniform depth,and then becomes progressively deeper toward the upper end of pin Illand opens through the upper end of the pin. The slot I2, however,preferably extends for the full length of the pin.

Disposed in the slot I2 is a resilient member I3 which substantially llsthe shallower depth of the slot I2 adjacent the lower end of the slot,and this member I3, at its lower end, is flanged laterally at I4 beneaththe lower end of the pin III so as to limit the upward movement of themember I3 in the slot I2. This member I3 extends to the top of the pinIE) and beyond the face 9 this member I3 is anged laterally as at I5,which would be away from the pin I 0, so as to overlie the upper face 9of the die base I, as shown in full lines in Fig. l. This ilanged end I5preferably has a convex upper surface which, at its highest point,extends to or slightly above the upper end face of the head II. Themember I3 is preferably straight between the flanged ends I4 and I 5, sothat it normally` has the straight position shown in Fig. 1 with thelower end part of the member I3 snugly wedged against the wall of thepassage 8, which aids in holding the pin IB in position in the die base.

The member I3 is, however, free to ilex at its upper end into theprogressively deeper slot I2 into the position shown by dash lines inFig. 1, in which flexed position it abuts against the bottom of thetapered part of slot I2. Since member I3 is resilient, it will, whenreleased, automatically return to the full line position shown in Fig. 1in which the end of the flange extends outwardly of the Slot and beyondthe head Il over and upon the upper face 9 of the die base I.

In use, the blank or stock B (see Fig. 3) is fed over the upper face 9of the die base I beneath the punch 5 until the advanced edge thereofengages the flanged end I5 in the sto-p pin I0. This blank B is undercontinuous feeding pressure, and when it engages the flanged end I5, itflexes the member I3 into the dotted line position shown in Figs. 1 and3, and the advance of the blank or stop B is stopped. The die head 6 isthen caused to descend, during which the punch element 5 descendsthrough the aperture 4 in the stripper member 3, and engages the blank Band punches an aperture therein. When the die head 6 is elevated, thepunch element will be elevated, and the blank B, which adheres to thepunch element 5, will move upwardly with the element 5 until it engagesthe stripper plate or member 3. This stripper prevents the blank fromfurther following the punch element 5, and thus strips the blank fromthe punch element, whereupon the blank then falls into the positionshown in Fig. 4 and rests upon the top oi the flange I5;

When the blank B was elevated with the punch element 5 following thepunching operation, as shown in Fig. 3, the advance edge released theflanged end l5 of member I3, and the latter then sprung outwardly intothe full line position shown in Figs. l and 4, in which the end l5y is`nearer the punch element than it was before. Then when the blank B wasreleased from the punch element 5 by the stripper 3 and fell, itsforward edge portion was in a position to fall upon the top of theflange l5 instead of against its edge. The rfeeding pressure on theblank B then moves the blank forwardly automatically until an. aperturepunched bythe punch element 5 becomes aligned with the upper end of thepin ld and telescopes therewith, following which an edge of the aperturewill engage against the side edge of dang-e I5 and flex member I3 fromthe full line position of Fig. 1 into the dash line position of thatfigure. The punch then descends punches another aperture in the blank,and then whenrthe blank is again lifted with the punch element, itreleases the flanged end l5, so that the operation just described willbe repeated, and there will be another advance of the stock.

From this it will be observed that the operation is fully automatic, andthere are no moving parts which are likely to need adjustment or get outof order, and the cost of such a punch stop is extremely small. It isparticularly useful where one desires to have the stop disposed close tothe die parts, yet the overall dimensions or the punch device need notbe increased. This provides an especially simple and practical automaticstop.

It will be. understood that various changes in the details, materialsand arrangements of parts, which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be madeby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic stop for stock in perforation punching apparatus whichcomprises a die base for mounting a female die, a die head for mountinga male die and movable towards and from said base, a stripper disposedabove said base, a stop immovably carried by said base and extendingslightly upwardly from the upper face of said base into the path ofstock moving along said face, beneath said stripper, said stop having anotch in that side of its extending part towards which they stockrmoves, a member disposed in said notch and. yieldingly urged to extendsidewise of the stop out of said notch and over the top of said base butpushable into said notch by engagement therewith of an advancing edgeor" said stock, as the advancing movement of stock is limited, thevlifting of the male die lifting the perforated stock above said stopuntil stopped by said stripper, whereby as the stock is lifted, saidmember springs beneath the stock to hold it above said stop and. enablefurther advance of said stock released by the stripper and falling Vupon said member until a perforation in the stock drops over said stopand an edge of said perfora- Y wards its outer end, a spring element inand extending along said notch and anchored at its inner end between thepin and a wall of said recess, and having its outer end section flexiblein said notch in a direction radially oi the pin, andwhen free, urgedtoward the recess wall, said pin extending outwardly at least to theouter end face of said pin and flanged sidewise over said face beyondsaid pin, whereby engagement of an edge of said stock withfsaid angedend will flex said member further into said notch and then when thestock is lifted with the male die above the pin, said flanged end willspring below said stock and enable further advance of the stock.

3. An automatic stop for limiting movement of stock in a punch of thetype having a die base with a recess in its top, a stripper member, anda punch element, which comprises a pin having a shank of a size to fltsaid recess, a head at its outer end to abut said die base top, and aslot running lengthwise thereof and through said head, said slot at theheaded end portion being deeper than the outer end portion, a springelement disposed in and filling said other end portiton and extendingalong said headed end of the slot to said head and terminating in alateral flange that extends outwardly of the slot beyond the side edgeof said head and extends in a direction lengthwise of the slot at leastapproximately to the end face of the head, whereby when said pin isdisposed in said recess and an edge of the stock engages edgewise of theilange, it will flex the flanged end of said element in said headed endportion of the slot, and when the stock, following a punching operation,is lifted until released by the stripper member, the anged end of thespring element will spring beneath the stock and guide it over theheaded end of the pin until another edge of the stock engages and flexesthe flanged end of said element into the pin.

4. An automatic stop for limiting movement of stock in a punch of thetype having a die base with a recess in its top, a stripper member, anda punch element, which comprises a pin having a shank of a size to tsaid recess, a head at its outer end to abut said die base top, and aslot running lengthwise thereof and through said head, said slot at theheaded end portion being deeper than the outer end portion, a springelement with oppositely extending, parallel end flanges having its shankdisposed in said slot with one flanged end hooked over the unheaded endof said pin and its other anged end extending edgewise of said head andbeyond its edge, but movable into the head as the element is flexed insaid deeper slot portion by engagement therewith by an edge 0f the stockmovable over said die top, whereby when the stock is lifted with thepunch element until released by the stripper member, the stock will dropupon the outer face of said other flanged end that was released by thestock and be guided thereby past said pin until another edge of thestock engages and flexes said element.

5. An automatic stop for stock in perforation punching apparatus, whichcomprises a die base for mounting a female die, Ia die head for mountinga male die and movable towards and from said base, a stripper disposedabove said base and through which said male die passes, a stop xedlycarried by said base and extending slightly above the upper face of saidbase into the path of stock moving along said face, beneath saidstripper, said stop having a slot in that side of its upwardly extendingpart towards which the stock moves, a member disposed in said slotprojecting upwardly as high as said stop and resiliently urged sidewiseof the stop to project a part of the member that is as high as said stoptowards an advancing edge of said stock, and out of said slot, butpushable back into said stop by the pressure thereon of an edge of theadvancing stock and which limits the advance of the stock, the liftingof the male die, after a perforating operation, lifting the stockadhering to the male die above said stop and member, enabling saidmember to spring out sidewise of the head be neath the stock, wherebywhen the stock falls, following its stripping from the male die, itrests upon the member and may move over said stop forward until anotheredge of the stock engages said member and pushes it back into said slot.

6. An automatic stop for stock in perforation punching apparatus, whichcomprises a die base for mounting a female die, a die head for mountinga male die and movable towards and from said base, a stripper disposedabove said base and through which said male die passes, a stop xedlycarried by said base and extending slightly above the upper face of saidbase into the path of stoel: moving along said face, beneath saidstripper, said stop having a slot in that side of its upwardly extendingpart towards which the stock moves, and also extending in a directionlengthwise of the stop, an elongated member fixedy secured Iat its lowerend in said slot, extending to the top end thereof and then angedlaterally towards an advancing edge of the stock, the upper end part ofsaid slot being deeper in a direction crosswise of the length of thestop than the corresponding dimensions of said member in which the upperend of said member may move horizontally by exing of the member, t0project said flanged end to different distances sidewise of said stoptowards an advancing edge of said sto-ck, the resiliency of said memberurging its outer end in a direction ot project said flanged part towardsthe advancing edge of the stock, the flanged part having an elevation atleast equal to the upper end of said stop.

7. An automatic stop for stock in perforation punching apparatus, whichcomprises a die base for mounting a female die, a die head for mountinga male die and movable towards and from said base, a stripper disposedabove said base and through which said male die passes, a flexibleresilient member xedly supported within said base in an upright positionand having its lower end anchored immovably and its upper part extendingabove said base and free to ex, said base having an opening in its upperface through which the upper end of said member projects and in which itflexes back and forth towards and from an advancing edge of stock onsaid base beneath said stripper, said member extending above said basebut terminating below said stripper by a distance greater than thethickness of said stock, whereby when an edge of said advancing stockengages a side of said upper end of the member it will flex it in thesame direction until stopped thereby, and when the stock is lifted withthe male die after a perforation it will move above the level of theupper end of said member to release it, and the latter will then springback towards the next advancing edge of the stock so that when the stockis stripped by the stripper from the male die it will fall on the upperend of said member and be free to advance until another edge engages themember and ilexes it.

JOHN F. KOPCZYNSKI.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kowalski Sept. 2, 1941Number

